47 judo terms explained, including ippon, kuzushi, randori, uchi-komi and osaekomi, each with a one-line English meaning.
Judo terminology stayed Japanese wherever the sport travelled, so a class in any country counts scores, calls techniques and starts matches in the same words. Learning the words related to judo is therefore part of learning the sport itself: the referee’s commands, the names of the throw families and the words associated with the dojo and its etiquette. The judo glossary below gives each one a plain English meaning, so a term heard on the mat can be looked up straight away.
Must-Know Judo Terms, Phrases and Slang:
- Ashi-waza
- Dan
- Dojo
- Gi
- Hajime
- Ippon
- Judo
- Kata
- Kuzushi
- Matte
- Ne-waza
- Osoto-gari
- Randori
- Rei
- Sankaku
- Sensei
- Shime-waza
- Tatami
- Tori
- Uke
- Waza-ari
- Yoko-shiho-gatame
- Zori
- Atemi
- De-ashi-barai
- Harai-goshi
- Juji-gatame
- Nage-waza
- O-goshi
- Tsuri-komi-goshi
Judo Glossary: Every Term A to Z
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Ashi-waza | The family of foot and leg techniques used to sweep or trip an opponent off balance. |
| Atemi | Strikes to vulnerable points. Kept for kata and self-defense forms, never used in competition. |
| Dan | The black belt grades. Dan ranks begin where the coloured kyu grades end. |
| De-ashi-barai | A foot sweep that takes the opponent's advancing foot away just as weight settles on it. |
| Dojo | The training hall. Entering and leaving it is marked with a bow. |
| Gi | The judo uniform: heavy jacket, trousers and belt, built to be gripped and pulled. |
| Hajime | The referee's command to begin or resume the contest. |
| Hansoku-make | Disqualification for a serious or repeated offence. The opponent is awarded the contest. |
| Harai-goshi | A hip throw in which the thrower sweeps the opponent's leg away with the back of the thigh while turning in. |
| Ippon | The full score that ends the contest at once, from a clean throw on the back, a pin held to time, or a submission. |
| Judo | The martial art and Olympic sport founded by Jigoro Kano, built on throws, groundwork and using an opponent's force. |
| Judoka | A person who practises judo. |
| Juji-gatame | The cross armlock, applied with the opponent's arm trapped between the legs. |
| Kano | Jigoro Kano, who founded judo in 1882 out of older jujutsu schools. |
| Kata | A fixed sequence of techniques performed with a partner to study principles of attack and defense. |
| Kodokan | The school in Tokyo founded by Jigoro Kano, where judo began. |
| Koshi-waza | The hip throws as a group, including o-goshi and harai-goshi. |
| Kuzushi | Breaking the opponent's balance. Without it, no throw works. |
| Kyu | The grades below black belt, marked by coloured belts. |
| Matte | The referee's command to stop the action temporarily. |
| Nage-waza | The throwing techniques as a group. |
| Ne-waza | Groundwork: pins, armlocks and strangles applied once the fight goes to the mat. |
| O-goshi | The basic hip throw, loading the opponent across the hips and turning them over. |
| Obi | The belt. Its colour shows the grade, and its knot is tied the same way at every level. |
| Osaekomi | The call that a pin has started and the clock on it is running. |
| Osoto-gari | The major outer reap, cutting the opponent's supporting leg out backwards. |
| Randori | Free practice against a resisting partner. The judo word for sparring. |
| Rei | The bow. Performed on entering the mat, before and after practice, and to a partner. |
| Ritsurei | The standing bow, from the waist with the hands on the thighs. |
| Sankaku | Triangle techniques, where the legs form a triangle around the opponent's neck and arm. |
| Sensei | The teacher. The word means one who has gone before. |
| Seoi-nage | The shoulder throw, loading the opponent over the back and turning them across it. |
| Shido | A penalty for a minor rules infringement, such as stalling or a false attack. |
| Shime-waza | Strangulation techniques, applied to the neck rather than the windpipe when done well. |
| Sore-made | The referee's call that the contest is over. |
| Tachi-waza | Standing work, as opposed to ne-waza on the ground. |
| Tatami | The mat. Firm enough to throw on, soft enough to land on. |
| Tokui-waza | A judoka's favourite technique, the one they build their game around. |
| Tori | The person performing the technique. |
| Tsuri-komi-goshi | A hip throw combining a lifting hand and a pulling hand while turning the opponent across the hips. |
| Uchi-komi | Repetition drilling of the entry to a throw, without completing it. |
| Uke | The person receiving the technique, whose job is to take the fall safely. |
| Ukemi | Breakfalling. The first thing every beginner learns. |
| Waza-ari | The half score, given for a throw with control that falls short of ippon. Two of them end the contest. |
| Yoko-shiho-gatame | The side four-quarter hold, controlling the opponent across the chest from the side. |
| Zarei | The kneeling bow, used at the formal start and end of a class. |
| Zori | The sandals worn off the mat so the training surface stays clean. |
#1 Ashi-waza
A category of foot and leg techniques in Judo used to off-balance and throw an opponent. These techniques are fundamental for controlling an adversary’s lower body during a match.
#2 Dan
Refers to the ranking system used in Judo and other martial arts to signify a practitioner’s level of expertise; Dan levels begin after achieving black belt, indicating advanced proficiency.
#3 Dojo
The designated training space for martial arts practice, including Judo; a dojo is a place of learning and discipline where judokas hone their skills and respect for the art.
#4 Gi
The traditional uniform worn by practitioners of Judo, consisting of pants, a jacket, and a belt; the gi is designed to withstand the rigors of grappling and throwing techniques.
#5 Hajime
A command given by the referee to commence a Judo match or resume action; it signifies the start of combat or a return to active competition following a pause.
#6 Ippon
The highest score a Judoka can achieve in a match, indicating a perfect throw, securing a hold for 20 seconds, or opponent submission; it immediately ends the contest.
#7 Judo
A modern martial art, Olympic sport, and effective form of self-defense; Judo focuses on throws, groundwork, and the principle of using an opponent’s force against them.
#8 Kata
In Judo, a kata is a formalized sequence of movements which represent various offensive and defensive postures. These sequences are practiced as a way to study the principles of attack and defense, and they are performed with a partner in a pre-arranged manner.
#9 Kuzushi
The concept of off-balancing an opponent before executing a throw in Judo. Kuzushi is fundamental to performing effective throws and is achieved through a combination of movement and force application.
#10 Matte
Used by the referee to temporarily halt a match. “Matte” signals the competitors to stop their current action, often for safety reasons or to reset the match.
#11 Ne-waza
Translates to “ground techniques.” Ne-waza encompasses all Judo techniques applied when both contestants are fighting on the ground, including pins, joint locks, and strangleholds.
#12 Osoto-gari
A powerful Judo throw classified as a leg technique (ashi-waza), where the practitioner reaps the opponent’s outer leg to execute the throw. It’s a common technique learned by beginners.
#13 Randori
Free sparring practice in Judo where practitioners apply various techniques with a resisting partner. Randori helps Judokas to apply techniques with timing and adaptability in a dynamic environment.
#14 Rei
A bow, which is an essential form of etiquette in Judo. “Rei” represents respect and is performed at the beginning and end of practice sessions, matches, and when entering or leaving the dojo.
#15 Sankaku
A term referring to triangular techniques in Judo, such as sankaku-jime (triangular strangulation) where the legs are used to form a triangle around the opponent’s neck and arm to apply a choke.
#16 Sensei
A Japanese term used to refer to or address the teacher or instructor in Judo. “Sensei” literally means “one who has gone before,” indicating someone who guides students through their martial arts journey based on their greater experience.
#17 Shime-waza
Refers to choking techniques used in Judo to subdue an opponent by restricting their air flow or blood circulation. These techniques require precise application and control to avoid serious injury.
#18 Tatami
The traditional mat used in Judo and other martial arts, offering the necessary padding to safely practice throws and falls. Tatamis provide both comfort and protection during rigorous training sessions.
#19 Tori
In Judo, the “Tori” is the person performing a technique during training or competition. They are responsible for executing the throw, hold, or submission effectively and safely.
#20 Uke
The “Uke” is the person who receives the Judo techniques performed by the Tori. They play a crucial role in practicing defensive and falling techniques and must work in harmony with the Tori.
#21 Waza-ari
Awarded for a throw that is not quite the perfect Ippon, where the opponent is thrown with control and force but lands on their side. Two Waza-ari scores in a match are equivalent to one Ippon, resulting in victory.
#22 Yoko-shiho-gatame
A side four-quarter hold down in Judo, where the Tori controls the Uke from the side, immobilizing them with weight distribution and grips. It’s a powerful pinning technique used in ground fighting.
#23 Zori
Traditional Japanese footwear resembling flip-flops, made from straw, wood, or synthetic materials. Zori are worn by Judokas around the dojo (training hall) to keep the training area clean and to protect the feet outside the mat area.
#24 Atemi
Strikes aimed at the body to vital points, utilized in Judo’s self-defense forms rather than in regular competition. Atemi techniques can be crucial in kata, demonstrating the martial art’s comprehensive approach.
#25 De-ashi-barai
A foot sweep technique where one competitor displaces the advancing foot of an opponent, leading to a throw. It’s a fundamental move that relies on timing and understanding of the opponent’s motion.
#26 Harai-goshi
A core judo throw that involves sweeping the opponent’s legs with the back of one’s own thigh. This powerful and popular technique blends fines element of strength and timing for effective execution.
#27 Juji-gatame
A widely recognized and effective armlock where one immobilizes an opponent’s arm between their legs, forcing a submission. Juji-gatame demonstrates the intricate ground-work aspect of Judo, or Ne-waza.
#28 Nage-waza
The set of throwing techniques in Judo which involve unbalancing and projecting an opponent onto the mat. Mastery of nage-waza is essential for advancement in Judo and successful competition.
#29 O-goshi
One of the most fundamental hip throws in Judo, where the practitioner lifts the opponent over their hip. Emphasizing proper hip placement and force, it’s a technique often taught to beginners.
#30 Tsuri-komi-goshi
A Judo throw classified under hip techniques (koshi-waza). In this technique, the judoka uses one hand to lift the opponent (tsuri means “lifting”) and the other hand to pull (komi) while turning and fitting the opponent’s body across the hip (goshi) for the throw. This throw is effective in using both hands dynamically to control and execute the technique.
FAQ
What is sparring in judo called?
Randori. It is free practice against a partner who resists, as opposed to uchi-komi, which is repeating the entry to a throw without finishing it.
What is bowing in judo called?
Rei. The standing bow is ritsurei and the kneeling bow is zarei. Judoka bow on entering and leaving the mat, at the start and end of a class, and to each partner they train with.
What does the word judo mean in English?
Gentle way, or soft way. Ju is the yielding, do is the way or path, which points at the idea of giving way to an opponent’s force rather than meeting it head on.
What do you call someone who practises judo?
A judoka. The teacher is addressed as sensei, and within an exercise the person doing the technique is tori while the person receiving it is uke.
What is a judoka’s favourite technique called?
Tokui-waza. It is the technique a judoka specialises in and builds combinations around, and most competitors are known for one.
Which command does the referee use to start a judo match?
Hajime. Matte pauses the action, osaekomi starts the clock on a pin, and sore-made ends the contest.
Scoring (ippon, waza-ari, shido), technique families (nage-waza, ne-waza, ashi-waza, koshi-waza), the training hall (dojo, tatami, gi, obi) and the referee’s commands (hajime, matte, osaekomi). The judo glossary above lists them with plain meanings.
What are some Judo terms for beginners?
“Ashi-waza,” “Gi,” and “Ippon” are some Judo terms beginners should start with. These refer to foot techniques, the traditional uniform, and a match-winning point, respectively.
What are some funny Judo terms?
While Judo is a serious sport, “Uke,” as the person who “receives” the throw, can sound amusing, especially in a dojo filled with enthusiastic beginners trying to pronounce it.
What is a famous Judo phrase?
“Maximum efficiency with minimum effort,” is a famous Judo phrase, encapsulating the art’s philosophy of using an opponent’s energy against them and striving for mental and physical harmony.
